Android 7.1.2 Nougat: What’s New?

Google has provided a small change log of the update for its Pixel and Nexus devices which can be found below:

• Improved fingerprint swipe performance
• Additional improvements/fixes for the audio popping issue some users were experiencing while playing audio at high volumes
• Bluetooth connectivity improvements
• Fix to the early shutdown issue
• Battery usage alerts
• Fix to the pink banding issue a small number of users were experiencing on the camera

We analyze in detail about some of the changes before we move on to what new features Android 7.1.2 brings to the Pixel C.

Improved fingerprint swipe performance: The Swipe down for notifications gesture now works more smoothly and reliably for Pixel owners. Google is also introducing the gesture to the Nexus 5X and 6P owners with this update.

Audio popping issue: Many Pixel users reported about speaker audio popping on their devices. While Google fixed this issue somewhat with the February security patch, it has made further tweaks to reduce the issue on affected devices.

Bluetooth connectivity: Many Pixel and Nexus owners have been complaining for more than a month about Bluetooth shutting down randomly on their devices or refusing to work properly with certain devices. Google tried fixing this issue with a server-side update to Google Play Services, and with Android 7.1.2, it hopes to completely fix the issue once and for all.

Early Shutdown issues: Many Pixel and Nexus owners have been complaining about their device shutting down earlier than usual when its low on battery. With the Android 7.1.2, Google says that this issue should not affect Pixel users at all. However, the issue still persists on affected 6P units.

New Features in Android 7.1.2

Android 7.1.2 brings a trio of new features to the Pixel C. Firstly, there is a new Pixel style launcher making its way to the tablet with this update. Then, there is also a new Pixel style navigation bar with an animated home button as found on the Pixel and Pixel XL.

The biggest update, however, is to the Recent Apps view on the Pixel C. The refreshed Recent Apps view now shows eight cards in a grid-like view that better suits the display of the tablet and makes proper use of the available real estate.

Lastly, all Android 7.1.2 running Pixel and Nexus devices now have a new ‘Usage Alerts’ option under the Battery menu. The feature should automatically highlight apps or services that are draining the battery of your device.